Container racking and wheeling attachment



Sept. 15, 1959 J. cs. BRADLEY 2,904,345

CONTAINER RACKING AND WHEELING ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l 11 I hnnnnnmmnnr a Q1 1 ll HI! 5 uuuuuU'fi 36 30 a F/gJ Fig.2

| II /0 mm /2 a UU U UUUUU Jess/e 6. Brad/ gv L. v INVENT Sept. 15, 1959 J. G. BRADLEY 2,904,345

CONTAINER RACKING AND WHEELING ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jess/e 61 Bradley 1N VEN TOR.

WWW 3m United States PatentOi CONTAINER RACKING AND WHEELING ATTACHMENT Jessie G. Bradley, Holdenville, Okla.

Application October 2, 1957, Serial No. 687,797

3 Claims. (Cl. 28047.13)

The present invention relates to improved means through the medium of which a container may be lifted, lowered and otherwise handled and has more particular reference to simple, practical and expedient attachments which are expressly, but not necessarily, designed and adapted to tilt and wheel trash and garbage cans from place to place on ones premises.

As is well-known to persons conversant with the state of the art to which the invention relates, many and varied styles and forms of wheeled trucks, carriages and transporting devices have been appropriated to expedite the handling of loaded trash cans and the like. It follows that the instant invention has been evolved and produced with a view toward providing a structurally and functionally distinct adaptation which not only well serves the purposes for which it is intended, but is constructed to do so in a manner that its widespread adoption and use appears to be virtually assured.

Looking toward satisfactory accomplishment of the needs and requirements involved two companion units are employed. One unit is characterized by a band or an equivalent device to embrace the upper portion of the can or container and this is equipped with a handle. The other unit is characterized by a wheel supported axle and can cradling and racking means carried by the axle. Said means also includes a band to embrace the lower portion of the can, said band cooperating with the attending components in enabling the user to easily tilt the can so that the load is nicely balanced on the wheel supported axle and, whereby the can may then be readily wheeled and carted about in a reliable and easy-to-handle manner.

Briefly summarized, the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof is characterized by an axle, wheels mounted for free rotation on the end portions of said axle, and a cradling rack fixedly joined to that part of the axle spanning the space between said wheels, said rack embodying means to embrace and retain the basal portion of a container, and a means to removably seat a minimal segmental portion of the bottom of said container, the bottom portion of said means being flat and horizontal and suspended below said axle and thus adapted to rest firmly upon the ground or other foundation, whereby said container may also rest firmly upon the foundation until the user desires to tilt and wheel the container from place to place.

It is significant to note, as will be later clarified, that the rack is relatively small and is virtually encompassed within the confines of the wheels at the ends of the axle and is such that the bottom portion of the rack may rest, along with the bottom of the can, on the ground or foundation when the can is in its normal erect position.

Other objects, features and advantages 'will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

2,904,345 Patented Sept. 15, 19

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention showing how it is constructed and used.

Fig. 2 is a view at right angles thereto observing Fig. l in a direction from left to right.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the racking, cradling and wheeling unit with the can removed.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the handle-equipped unit.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the same unit from a different angle of observation.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

The upper or handle-equipped unit is denoted as an entity by the numeral 10 and comprises a split band 12 the ends 14 of which are provided with bored lugs 16 through and beyond which the screw-threaded end portions 18 of an adjusting and connecting rod 20 pass. The end portions are held in place by suitably mounted nuts 22. This construction permits the band to be applied, removed and adapted to cans of different diameters. As seen in Fig. 8 the band is provided opposite split end portions with an internally screw-threaded fixedly mounted suitably angled socket member 24 to accommodate the screw-threaded lower end 26- of an appropriately shaped and sized handle 28. This unit is applied and used in the obvious manner depicted in Figs. 1 and 2.

The companion lower wheeling and cradling unit is denoted by the numeral 30 and it too comprises a similar band 32 the end portions 34 being provided with lugs 36 to accommodate the threaded ends 38 and nuts 40 of the arcuately bent connecting and adjusting rod 42. The aforementioned axle 44 is provided on its ends with rubber-tire-equipped freely rotatable transporting wheels 46. This construction serves as a rollable carriage for the rack. The rack comprises a substantially U-shaped member which may be here referred to as a stirrup 48, the bight portion 50 thereof being connected to the forward end of the horizontal short limb 52 of an L-shaped brace or bracket 54. The vertical limb 56 depends from and has its upper end connected to the median portion of the axle 44. The portion of the band opposite to the split ends, that is the portion 58, is welded or otherwise fixedly mounted atop the upper end of the limb 56. Adjacent circumferentially spaced portions of the band are connected at 60 with the vertical or upstanding arms 62 of the U-shaped stirrup 48. The numerals 64 designate rigidifying arms or braces which have their forward ends connected rigidly at 66 to circumferentially spaced portions of the band. It will be noticed that the limb 52 is relatively short and actually terminates at its forward end within the perimeters of the wheels 46. The limb also is in a plane at a tangent to the wheels which enables it to rest, with the bight portion 50, on the foundation or ground. As a matter of fact the stirrup 48 is located close to the L-shaped bracket or brace 54 and hence only a segmental portion of the bottom of the can rests in the cradling rack. This makes it easy to insert and remove the can, obviates distortion and bending of the parts, and insures efficient operation and easy tilting, handling and wheeling of the can simply by swinging the can rearwardly and catching hold of the handle 28, in an obvious manner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A container racking, handling and wheeling structure comprising, in combination, a mobile truck embodying an axle, wheels mounted for freerotation on end portions of said axle, an L-shaped brace having a vertical limb, an upper end of which is fixed to a median 'portion of said axle substantiallylmidway between the .positions of the wheels on the axle, said limb depending a distance predetermined in relation to the diameter coplanar with the forward end of said horizontal limb,

and vertical upstanding arms equal in height to the height of said vertical limb, saidbight portion being of a length that said arms are disposed just inwardly of the interior surfaces of the respective wheels, and a horizontal container encircling and embracing band disposed in a plane slightly above the plane of said axle and having circumferentially spaced portions secured to said vertical limb and arms respectively.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and in combination with said structure, a pair of rigidifying arms fixed at their forward ends to said band, located inwardly of said wheels and fixed at their rearward ends to said axle.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, and in combination with said structure, a pair of rigidifying arms fixed at their forward ends to said band adjacent to the junctional connection between said arms and band, located inwardly of said wheels and fixed at their rearward ends to said axle, a circular split band adapted to encircle the upper portion of said container, and a handle carried by said second named band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS f 1,544,356 Spaeth June 30,1925

2,764,420 Morrissy Sept. 25, 1956 2,786,693 Ayers Mar. 26, 1957 2,808,163 Petzke Oct. 1, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,566/28 Australia Sept. 25, 1928 

